Hatch cover



1.'.5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 23, 1958 H. KLIMMlFeM/Mlv HATCH covER Filed Feb.. '12, 1957 Sept. 23, 1958 H. KUMMERMAN HATCH COVER 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1`2, 1957 y H. KuMMl-:RMAN l 2,853,131

Sept. 23, 1958 HATCH COVER 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1957 Sept. 23, 1958 H. KUMMERMAN 2,853,131

HATCH COVER Filed Feb. 12, 1957 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 HATCH COVER l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1957 Sept. 23, 1958 H. KUMMERMAN HATCH COVER 15 Sheets-Shea?I 6 Filed Feb. 12, 1957 Sept. 23, 1958 H. KUMMERMAN y HATCH COVER 13 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed -Feb. 12, 1957 Sept. 23, 1958 H. KUMMERMAN HATCH COVER 13 sheets-sheet s Filed Feb. 12 1957 Sept. 23,` 1958 H. KUMMERMAN HATCH COVER l5 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 12 1957 sepnzs, 1958 'H. KUMMERMAN HATCH COVER Filed Feb. 12, 1F95? 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 Sept.r23, A1958 H. KUMMERMAN HATCH COVER 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Feb. 12, 19547 Sept 23, 1958 H. KUMMERMAN 2,853,131

- HA'ljcH COVER Filed Feb. 12, 1957 l 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 nited States Patent HATCH COVER Henri Kummerman, Paris, France Application February 12, 1957, Serial No. 639,672 v `Claims priority, application France April 13, 1956 13 Claims. (Cl. 160-188) of the space to be covered so as to finally constitute a continuous sheet closing said space. When the space is open, these panels are stowed in a vertical position in a stowage place provided at one or either end of the aforesaid space. such as rollers or skids whereby it can roll or slide along said edges of the space when the panel is disposed horizontally, these means co-acting with suitable ramps provided in the vicinity of the stowage place for tilting the the different panels exert a thrust against one another during their rolling and tilting movements, a plurality of so-called thrust rollers or like members are provided on each panel (except the one nearest to the stowage place) and on the panel end nearest to the stowage place, said rollers projecting slightly from the contour of the panels and ensuring the contact between the panel on which they are mounted and the adjacent panel, whereby only one pair of rolling rollers are provided on each panel, except on the panel remotest from the stowage place.

Other features and advantages of the present invention u will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specication and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a few typical embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a closing device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, wherein the dilferent panels are disposed `in their stowage place;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section corresponding to Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a plane view corresponding to Fig. l;

Figure 4 is a section taken upon the line IV-IV of t Fig. l;

Each panel is provided with means p panel from its horizontal to itsjvertical position and vicev versa.

It may be pointed out that these different operations, that is, the rolling of the panels along the edges of the space to be closed and their tilting from the horizontal to the vertical position and vice-versa, are obtained by,

should not tip up inopportunely so as to escape from i the operators control. Moreover, whenthe space is opened `by causing the panels to tip up from the horizontal to the vertical position, a thrust is exerted bythe remotest panel from the stowage place on the ladjacent panel. Consequently care should be taken that no jamming or` distortion of the panels with -respect to o'ne an-y other occurs. i

Now the device constituting the subject-matter of `this j invention is adapted to meet all the requirements con cerning the rapidity and safety of operation and is remarkable notably in that the runway provided along the f edges of the space to be covered is formed with an extension inside the stowage place or places, this extension being bent or curved downwards and co-acting with the aforesaid rollers; furthermore, mechanical means are y provided for urging and keeping said rollers in engagement with said curved portion until the tipping operation is completed.

According to another feature of this invention, the aforesaid mechanical means consists of grooves adapted to` receive said rollers, or spaced, substantially parallel ramps `constituting a channel, etc. y 5

According to a further feature of this invention, as

Figure 5 is a plane view of a panel according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a section taken upon the line VI--VI of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is another section taken upon the line VII-VII of Fig. 5;

Figure 8 is a section similar to Fig. 6 but showing a so-called end panel, in this case the panel remotest Vfrom the stowage place;

Figure 9 shows in horizontal section a fragmentary view of the runway provided along the edges of the space to be closed;

Figure l0 is a cross section showing the end joints of the panel remotest from'the stowage place;

Figure l1 is a View showing on a larger scale the joint between two adjacent panels;

Figure l2 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint between the panel nearest to the stowage place and the edges of the space to be closed;

Figure 13 is a detail view illustrating the mounting of a so-called thrust roller;

Figure 14 is an elevational view showing the device for controlling the operating cable or chain;

Figure l5 is a corresponding end View;

Figure 16 is a corresponding plane view;

Figure 17 is a side elevational view showing a railway truck provided with a device according to this invention, and

Figure 18 is an end view of the truck shown in Fig. 17.

In the example illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the space to be closed by means of the device of this invention is designated in general by the reference numeral 1. At its upper portion this space comprises an edge 2 carrying a runway 3 having an inclined and curved extension 4. It will be readily understood that the space 1 may belong to or constitute a ships hold, a railway open truck, etc. Whatever the field or" application of this invention, the function of the device ,constituting the subject-matter thereof will remain the same, i. e. covering or closing an open space.

There is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a secondary place or recess 5 called herein stowage place which is adjacent to the space 1 and consists for example of a frame structure shown more or less diagrammatically at 6 with reinforcing members 7.l On its sides the stowage space 5 is lined with sections or like elements 8 forming guideways anking said storage space ending towards the space 1 with an inclined portion or ramp 9.

As already set lforth hereinabove, the inclined portion 4 constituting the extension of the runway 3 extends inside the stowage place 5 as shown 5 in Figs. land 2.

According to this invention an additional inclined guideway element '10 substantially 'parallel At' "the'wi'a'rnpv 4 is provided and adapted to"constitutetlierwitha kindl main point is that it forms a channel 'in"which`,`as be explained presently, rollers'o shafts'moujrited on the l panels maybe engaged.

As illustrated in'Fig.' 1, the space 1 is closed by meansI Qf a Series f Panels illustrated at 11, 12, 13, i4?I 15:15

and 16. `In the"`example'illustrated sixlpanelsmare prof vided, but it will be' readily understood thatthis number is arbitrary as far'as the principle fof thisl'in'vent'ion isv concerned. The panel 11 is the Enear'e'fst to the stowage place and the panel 16 Vis the remotest therefrom,y VYas 20 will be readily understood.V Th-ese panels maybe of. any desired and suitable type, of course, but an' embodimentl particularlyadequate"and radvantagcous isillustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 bfithedrawings. vIn 'this specificv'form of embodiment the panels consistof a' pair of lateral'at 25 bar-irons 17, 18 "constituting the'fr'ameo'f the'panelfd'e-V tween these at bar-irons a corrugated or pressed sheetiron is disposed, this 'sheet having'forexample a section comprising a swell "19and a trough Ztl. This specific panel design is advantageous in that it combines a'con- 3 side'rable strength `with anappreciabile lightnessl` In the troughs 20 ports yor scupper-holes 21 are provided yat spaced intervals' for' draining any rainwater likely to, accumulate in these panel portions.

Regarding the' cons't'ruction'of the panel ends, a disf 35 crimination should be made between the'end panels, i. e. the panels 1.1andf16,'andthe intermediate panels '12, 13, 14 and 15. i

Regarding the end panels 11 itis necessary to contemplate' on'fthe onehand the manner inI which it will 4,

be connected tothe' adjacent panel 12 in the closedposition, and on the other hand the manner in whichitwill provide'a water-tight joint with Athe edge ofthe space to4 be closed. If referenceis'madeto Fig. l2ofA the drawing it win beissen thatfernris'purppse the panel een` 45 cerncd may-comprise, for example, an langle.nrernber 22 of'which"onewin'g isfadap'ted'to engage through thel medium of asuitable sealing `material, for example va rubber strip 23, the end edge24'of 'the stowage place `5.-

The sameapplies'to theV end vpanel ,'16 as illustrated in 50 they aremounted is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 11'.l The sheet-iron member 19, 20 constituting the panel proper comprises a bent projection 27 a't neendoffthe panel 12, for example as illustrated in Figi 6. ""Tlie' same'occufs in the adjacent panel 13, for example, in which 'the' ben'tf' projection 28 has its outer. edge turned upwards insteadfh of downwards `in the case of the 'projection 27. l`hefr'e'- inforcement of frames 17, l18fare formed in turn vwith a cut-out portion 29ofbroken-line configuration, forex ple, in order to provide a suitable intertting` jointvbe? tween the adjacent ends'of the two panels. v Y l i' Each intermediate panelulZ;k 13,.14 and ,15,forvexam3 ple, and the end panel 16,"carry ttheir'cndsnearestato the stowage placew; a Yso-called thrustirolle'r 30.. When the panels are in their extendedor space-closing,positie@ each roller 30 ico-acts with anengagesl a boss-,andvramp forming element 31 provided)andthey adjacent ,panelsfand r merging in a member 32 provided. 0n the lowersfac ,Of .'75

this last-mentioned panel. This member 32 may be of channel configuration and constitutes a runway for said roller 30, the ramp or boss 31 serving the purpose of guiding the initial portion of the thrust movement as will be made clear presently.

Figure 13 illustrates a specific mounting of this roller 30. In this embodiment, the roller is mounted by means of two bearing-forming members 33,y 34 secured on the sheet-iron 19, 20. As arule, two rollers are provided in the vicinity o f the stowage space, this being quite sufficient to ensure a satisfactory operation of the device, of the invention.

The runway 32 illustrated in Fig. 11 is also shown, in Figs. 5 and v7, it consists, in this specific example, of a channel iron projecting from the lower face of the panel, but it will be readily understood that any other suitable section, even a hollow section, may be used for this purpose, provided that itis adapted to be engaged by the thrustroller 30yof which the position, 35` is illustratedY in Fig. 5.

`The'rnovement of the panels 11 to 15 is obtained by riding means consisting for example of a pair of socalled supporting'rollers 37 and also by tilting means consisting for example ofl sol-calledy tippingy rollers 38.., To this end, the rollersv 37 are movable along the run-l way orguide race 3 and then on the ramp 4. On. the other hand, the tipping roller 38 is movable firstly along the ramp@v andlthen along the rectilinear runway 8 disposed alongside the stowage place 5.

`In Aits c lo'sedeor rolling position, each panel 11 to.15' is maintained iu equilibrium by the supporting rollers`l 37 vand the ,thrust rollers Y30 of I the adjacent panel. Onlyn the' end panel 16 which does not engage any roller 30 is providedwith two pairsl of rollers 36 and 37.

'Of course, paired rollers 36 and 37 maybe provided on all# the panels 11 to 16 without departing from the spirit and-scope of the invention.

The different panels are interconnected ,through exible connecting means such aschains or cables 39 attachedv for example to the shafts of'rollers 38. O f course, any other fixation point may be used, if desired. The .lengthof these chainsv 39 should be calculatedas a function 4ofy the length of the panels so as topermit their proper spreading in the space-closing position.

4The remotest panel 16 isvconnectedrat a point 40 ,to a, control-chain or cable 41 which, in the exampleillus:` trated, is of the endless type. For this purpose, a return.. sprocket or notched pulley 42 mounted on avtensioning device 43 may be provided, as shown. Preferably, this assembly is disposed sidewise to the runway 3. Of course, the arrangement may comprise, if desired, two cables ,on either Vside of thespace 1 to be'vclosed, so as to distribute the stress symmetrically.

In the example illustrated it is assumed that the assem; bly comprises only one stowage place and that the panel assembly designed to cover the space 1 could be stowed completely therein. Under these conditions, the device for actuating the control cable or chain 41 may be, located at the opposite end of the space 1. Moreover it is assumed in this embodiment that thel space 1,to be closed was a railway open-truck. Figs. 14 to 18 show clearlylthe general disposition of this assembly. It-jis.. essential vto point out primarily that, as illustrated Vin Fig. 9,v the chain and -the rollers are protected laterally. by the provision of a section iron 44 welded or otherwisel secured on the upper edge 45 ofthe space 1 to be closed..

The section iron 44 constitutesa kind of channel engage-v able by the various rollers mounted on the panels and also bythe control chain 41. The return reach lof this' y chain may be positioned if desired outside the channel in a special sheath or in a tube 46 as also shown in Fig.l 9.

In the case of a railway truck, it is necessary that the. complete device may be actuated from the ground.

As already set forthV hereinabove, the control chain or Cable 41 passes over a sprocket or notched pulley 42 and asse, rsi

leads to A` theothe end Vof ihetnlck/or spaee where it ifwound up onl a toothed1wheel"47. This toothed-wheel is `mounted''coaxially to apin'ioni48meshin'g for example with' another pinion 49 coaxial with a chain wheel 50 over which a control chain 51 is passed, thisc'hain 51 being adapted to' be pulled by hand and guidedat its lower portion by a grooved pulley 52.

A modified embodiment maycorriprise a r'iotche'dl wheel substituted for'tlie g'roove pulley SZandiprovided with a shaft 53 actuated by a cranlc'or like member located at a convenient level so that the operator may actuate it from the ground. Witlthis arrangement an extremely simple and' convenient control devieegisy obtaii'tedl,` and due to theV gear reduction `provided bythe geen assembly 47, 48,- 49 and 50, the e'iortrequired for its actuation is reduced considerably so that the panel spreading movement takes place ve'ry rapidly and Without any substantial effort for ythe operator.

Of course, the device may becnsttuctedin a similar but slightly diiferent manner b'y slrply passing th ch'ain 41 over a notched wheel suchv as 47 and causing this chain to lead to a pinionsuch as 52. In thisfcase, the chains 51` and 41 will'be combined into a single one', but, of course, the effort imposed on the operator would be much more considerable.

`In the embodiment illustrated by way of example the saine chain control device is `provided on either side of the truck and the chain wheels 50 are interconnected through a` transverse shaft 62 for balancing the stresses on both control chains 41. Thus, the device may' be actuated either simultaneously `by pulling both chains 51; or by a single operator placed on one or 'the other'side of the truck, so that it is not necessary for him to cross the raCk;

In Figs. 14 to 16 ofthe drawings, and also' in Fig. 18; a control rod S4 guided for example in a socket 5S and adapted to be controlled from the ground is shown. The purpose of this rod is to lock the end panel 16 when it has attained its closed position. To this end, the rod 54 is provided or formed withV a handle 56 (seeFigs.` 14 and l5) and its upper end is adapted to engage a notch or orifice formed for' example ina member 57 located inside the panel 16 and secured on the end angle-member of this panel as illustrated at 25. With this rod or bolt 55 it is possible to lock the panel in the desired position, and by rotating the handle 56 to the position in which it is shown in chain-dotted linesvin Fig. 14 it is possible vto 'cause a projection 58 carried by this rod to engage an appropriate recess 59 formed in the frame or body structure of the truck or the like.

For the sake of symmetry, this locking device may be provided on either side of the truck. Thus, this device may be used for aixing the custom seals.

Of course, a similar locking device may be provided on each panel.

In order to facilitate the guiding and tipping movements of the panels as they pass from the horizontal position to the vertical position and Vice-versa, a so-called stowing roller 60 carried by the same shaft as the roller 37 may be provided, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus this roller 60 will be guided between the pair of inclined ramps 4 and 1l) illustrated in Fig. 1.

The operation of the arrangement described hereinabove is extremely simple. Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the control cable or chain 41 is pulled to the left the panel 16 is also moved to the left, and at a certain moment the stowing roller Gil will engage the inclined ramp 4. At thesame time, the so-called tipping rollers 38 move along the runway 8 so that the panel 16 attains the position shown in chain-dotted lines at 16', Fig. 2. As this movement is continued, the rollers 60 and 38 move along the ramps 4-10 and 8-9, thereby causing the panel to tilt and assume a delinitive horizontal position on the edges of 'the space to be closed. During this movement, the

6 I panel :isf guided l'furthe vone hand by its roller F60' moving in theygap providedlbet-'ween t'hettw'o ramps 4 and '110, 'and on'the `other 'hand 'by Sthe liso-calledtl1r-1'1s't` 'roll'e1"'30v engaging 4the runway 32 providedon the adjacent lpanel and, finally,A .by -a roller BS engaging the' ramp 8 9. Thus, it `is apparent that the panel will be tilted veryfprogressively -as`it is .guided Vat three separatelocat'ionst Therefore, `it is'ncit possible for thep'anel to 'effect any untimely `or :undesired movement until .it :attains the horizontal position; Thesame applies Ito the different successivepanel's, vall of which arev tipped .inthe'same manner and occupy a horizontal position to fclose-the spacek 1.` Whenitis desired to open this space', tli panels are moved i-n @the opposite direction by Vexerting a` pull on the 'chains in the corresponding direction', i.x e. to the right as` seenin 'the figures, whereby the-panels 11, '12,' '13, "114, 15 and 16 will tbe successively Ibrougn positions-such as illustrated at 161; duri-ng rthese'movemen-ts 'they keep exerting =a forward thrust lby' virt'u'eef the roller '30 engaging' theadjalcent panel so thatvthe-panls' are-pushed andforced Tinto engagement on theonehand with the runway-849 and on thefother hand with the r'arps' 4--I0. l

In: Figs. 17 and 18 there is illustrated the specific -case of a rail-way Yopen-"truck on which the stowage space^is provided at one end -ofrtlhe truck only, above the cou'- pling-butfers.` It .is -evidentvtha'tthe number and size of the panels vari/asa function of the dimensions of the stowage place available. Of course, the panels Vmay be divided into two groups and stowed at both ends of" the truck,- the :junction betweenthese groups occurring'in the middle of the truck. Howev'er,-considering the nat-ure yof the. panels utilized inthis'cons'tmction and more particularly; their control `device and the very-reduced space required for stowing them, the embodiment shown in Figs; 17 and 18 is preferred; as demonstratedfby prac= tical experiments Y Moreover, it isllsopossible to'use in the deviceo'f this invention panel-actuatingmeans other than the endless chain or cable illustrated in the drawings at 41. It is also worth pointing out that in the diiierent figures of the drawings a so-called` traction member 61 secured on the end panel 16and connected to the chain 41 is illustrated. It is evident that any desired and convenient modifications may be brought to this mounting without departing from the spirit and scopel of the invention;

Of course, the overlapping off'the panels relative to one another and vto the body or structure to be covered will comprise meanssuch as bafes, channels or draining apertures for sealing and discharging the rainwater.

Finally, it will be readily understood vby anybody con` versant with the art that the invention is not limited to the typical embodiments illustrated and described herein, as many modifications may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as Iset forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A closing device for a hold comprising back, front and side walls, said walls defining an opening comprising a series of separate panels, runways llanking said opening, riding means on said panels allowing them to ride on `said runways to close and open said opening, a storage space at least at one end of said opening for locating said panels in an upended position and in adjacent relationship, guideways flanking said storage space and laterally offset with respect to the said runways, downwardly inclined extensions on said runways located inside said stor- .age space, said riding means being adapted to ride on inclined guideway element in said storage space vertically offset from and at least partially superimposed in parallel relationship to said inclined extension constituting a channel like guideway therebetween for obtaining a secure guiding of said tilting means, and further thrust roller means on every panel except the panel nearest the said storage space, said thrust rollers projecting from the contour of their respective panels and being provided on the ends of said panels nearest the storage space, the panels being considered occupying their horizontal closing position, whereby during the tilting operation the said thrust rollers of one panel contact the lower surface of the adjacent panel and contribute thereby to support the corresponding end of the second adjacent panel and also transmit thereto the exerted thrust.

2. A closing device for a hold comprising back, front and side walls, said walls defining an opening, comprising a series of separate panels, runways anking said opening, riding means on said panels allowing them to ride on said runways to close and open said opening, a storage space at least at one end of said opening for loeating said panels in an upended position and in adjacent relationship, guideways flanking said storage space and laterally oiset with respect to the said runways, downwardly inclined extensions on said runways located inside storage space, said riding means being adapted to ride on said inclined extensions, tilting means extending laterally of each of said panels and intended for cooperation with said guideway anking said storage space, exible connecting means between two adjacent panels, control means acting on the panel which is the remotest with respect to said storage space,for causing all of the said panels to be tilted and moved into and out of the said storage space in order to-close and open said opening, an additional inclined guideway element in said storage space vertically offset from and at least partially superimposed in parallel relationship to said inclined extension constituting a channel like guideway therebetween for obtaining a secure guiding of said tilting means, and further thrust roller means on either panel except the panel nearest the said storage space, said thrust rollers projecting somewhat from the contour of their respective panels and being provided on the ends of said panels nearest the storage space, the panels being considered occupying their horizontal closing position, whereby during the tilting operation the said thrust rollers of one panel contact the lower surface of the adjacent panel and contribute thereby to support the corresponding end of the said adjacent panel and also transmit thereto the exerted thrusts, whereas the aforesaid riding means consist of but a single pair of rollers provided only on one end of the said panels.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein ramp -forming elements are provided on the lower face of said panels, considered in their horizontal closing position, for a guiding cooperation with the thrust rollers of an adjacent panel.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said ramp forming means consist of channel means secured to the said lower face of the panels.

5.' A device according to claim 1 wherein protection means are provided for said laterally extending control means.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein a protective channel member is secured on the edges of said opening for containing and protecting outwardly at least partially the said tilting and riding means and the control means.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the diterent panels are made of corrugated sheet iron and comprise a reinforcing external frame.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said frame consists of two lateral flat-irons. j

9. A device according to Vclairn 1 wherein means are provided forlocking said panels in their closing position, said means comprising rod means controlled from the ground level, handle means on said rod, hook like means at one end of said rod and notch like means on one of said panels, said hook engaging said notch for locking the panel.

10. A device according to claim 7 wherein interfitting elements are provided on each one of two adjacent panels and are adapted to overlap forming thereby a joint when the panels occupy their closing position.

1l. A device according to claim 4 wherein said channel means are provided with a curved end portion intended to damp the shocks produced by the thrust rollers of the different panels.

12. A device according to claim 7 wherein draining means for rain water are provided in the body of the different panels.

13. A device according to claim l wherein said riding means consist of rollers whereas further rollers are provided coaxially with said riding rollers and are intended to roll on said inclined extensions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,214 MacGregor et al. June 9, l953 2,771,136 Lecomte Nov. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 695,657 Great Britain Aug. l2, 1953 

